Police and military forces in the Czech Republic set up 500 checkpoints across the country as one of the European Union’s hardest-hit nations marked the first anniversary of its coronavirus outbreak on Monday by significantly limiting free movement.

Germany started today a shy return to normality with hairdressers reopening for business, along with hardware stores and flower shops in certain states, news wires reported. However, lack of decline in infections means most coronavirus rules will remain in place so far.

Former French President found Nicolas Sarkozy was found guilty of corruption and influence peddling and sentenced to three years in prison with two of them suspended, news wires reported. According to the court, he has forged a “corruption pact” with his lawyer and a senior magistrate.

Slovakia will tighten anti-epidemic restrictions from 3 March in order to try to limit the Covid-19 spread, news wires reported. The government of PM Igor Matovic released details of the new measures after several days of debates with experts as the country has ranked among the world's worst-hit by the third coronavirus wave.

Hungary’s PM Viktor Orban has threatened to withdraw the ruling party Fidesz from the conservative European People's Party bloc in the European Parliament, dpa reported, citing his letter published on Sunday.

Spanish police cracked down on protestors in Barcelona as unrest escalated in violent clashes amid arrest of the rarer Pablo Hasel, Reuters reported. Hasel was jailed as he hailed terrorism and insulted establishment, including royalty in his lyrics.

Spain announced it would administer only single shots of vaccines to adults under 55 who were already infected with the virus, Reuters reported. The decision is part of the new strategy of the local Ministry of Health.

The Czech cabinet authorized new restrictions on movement and enforced a 30-day state of emergency in a bid to slow the latest spike of new Covid-19 infections, Reuters reported. Under the new restrictions all schools and shops will be closed.

Portugal's Prime Minister Antonio Costa said on Friday that he hoped a vaccine passport, allowing people to travel freely if they can prove they have been vaccinated, will be in place by the summer.

German authorities launched coordinated raids against the homes and offices of members of a neo-Nazi network involved in large-scale drug sales and money laundering, dpa reported on Friday.